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Fabric Calculator
How much fabric will you need for your quilt? This calculator will tell you.
This is a great little fabric calculator to estimate how much quilt material you will need if you are creating your own quilt. Just input the information requested and click on the Calculate button. Always buy just a little bit more to allow for miscalculations and cutting mistakes. There is no such thing as too much fabric!
If you aren’t sure how big to make your quilt, see our chart of a standard mattress, pillow, and quilt sizes at the bottom of this page. There is even a pattern for making a “hot dog” pillowcase with all seams enclosed. There are tips for making a pieced backing at the bottom of this page.
Click here for a binding calculator.
Standard Mattress Sizes
Here is a chart of standard mattress sizes and likely quilt sizes. The actual size of a quilt will vary depending on the drop (how much hangs over the edge), the depth of your mattress, and the pillow tuck, as well as personal preference. As a general rule, you can figure that most mattresses are 8″ – 12″ deep, unless they are pillow top mattresses. Those are 14″ – 18″ deep. A pillow tuck will take an additional 10″ – 18″.
Pillows can vary in size, too. A standard size pillowcase is usually 20″ x 26″, queen size is usually 20″ x 30″ and a king size is 20″ x 36″. A pillowcase made with all seams enclosed (the “hot dog” method) is quick and easy, and makes a great gift. Here are free directions for a Hot Dog Pillowcase in PDF form.
| Size of Mattress | Size of Quilt | Size of Pillow | |
| Crib/Baby | 23″ x 46″ to 27″ x 52″ | 36″ x 48″ (plus) | |
| Lap | 50″ x 50″ (plus) | Square Decorative | |
| Twin/Daybed | 39″ x 78″ | 61″ x 88″ (the smaller ones might be called a throw) | Standard |
| Full/Double | 54″ x 75″ | 71″ x 88″ (plus) | Standard |
| Queen | 60″ x 80″ | 81″ x 92″ (plus) | Queen |
| King | 72″ x 84″ to 78″ x 80″ | 91″ x 97″ (plus) | King |
Fabric Calculator for Pieced Backing
If your quilt is under 60″ wide, a horizontal seam will often save on yardage. The examples above show a 60″ x 80″ quilt. 3 1/3 yards of standard width backing has been cut 60″ long and pieced.
If your quilt is more than 60″ wide, consider using a vertical seam. The examples above show an 80″ x 80″ quilt. 4 1/2 yards of standard width backing has been cut 80″ long and pieced. Depending on the cost of the fabric you are using to piece the backing, it may be more economical to buy 2 1/4 yards of extra-wide backing.
If your quilt is over 80″ wide, consider using the wide backing sold on this page. In the 110″ x 110″ example shown above, you would need 9 1/4 yards of standard width fabric but only 3 yards of extra wide fabric.
Have another idea to offer? Send it me, and I will add it here.
Still having trouble? Sometimes you just need to draw things out on graph paper. Fortunately, you can download what you need for free at this link: https://incompetech.com/graphpaper/
